Description
This is the first of six compositions based upon accounts of blindness recorded in the New Testament. The two markedly similar stories upon which this piece is based are taken from the Gospels of Mark and Luke. In the former, the blind beggar is identified as Bartimaeus; in the latter, he is anonymous. Very likely, the accounts refer to the same incident: the narrative development, characters, and many of the salient statements, are common to both.

The lyric interleaves the two scriptures. Corresponding sentences and phrases follow one another in sequence. In so doing, the similarities and differences between the two accounts are made more evident. Where the same phrase occurs in both texts, it is heard overlaid.

The percussive accompaniment is derived from the sound of the turntable’s tone-arm being dropped onto the record’s surface. Several drops were recorded, looped, and superimposed to create multiple rhythms. These impart a sense of imperative, dramatic tension, and forward movement to the narrative.

Lyric
And it came
And it came
to pass
Jericho
Jericho
as he was come nigh unto
that as he was come nigh
Jericho
Jericho
and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people
a certain
blind
blind
man sat by the way side
begging
begging

blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
he began to cry out, and say
And he cried, saying
Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me
Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me

And many charged him that he should
hold his peace
hold his peace
And they which went before rebuked him, that he
hold his piece
hold his peace
but he cried the more
but he cried the more
a great deal
but he cried so much the more
Thou son of David, have mercy on me
Thou son of David, have mercy on me

And Jesus stood
And Jesus stood
still
and commanded him to be
and commanded him to be
called
brought unto him
And they call the blind man, saying unto him

Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus
and when he was come near
And Jesus answered and said unto him
he asked him, saying
What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?
What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?
The blind man said unto him
And he said
Lord, that I might receive my sight
Lord, that I might receive my sight

And Jesus said unto him
And Jesus said unto him
Go thy way
Receive thy sight
thy faith hath
thy faith hath
saved thee
made thee whole

And immediately he received his sight, and followed
And immediately he received his sight, and followed
him
Jesus in the way
glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Biblical Text
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Biblical Reference
Mark 10.46–52, Luke 18.35–43.